Applying for OPT

Students must either attend a live OPT workshop or watch the recorded session before applying for OPT. This training is mandatory; you must complete it prior to requesting an OPT recommendation.

Complete and submit the Recommendation for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) form within URcompass to request an OPT recommendation, which will be issued on a new I-20. All students should confirm their completion date before submitting the form.

Once the form is received, an ISO advisor will process your request within 1 week and issue a new I-20 with the OPT recommendation. You will be notified by email when the new I-20 is available. You must include a copy of this I-20 when sending your OPT application to USCIS (outlined in Step 3 below).

Employment dates: On the form, you’ll be asked to indicate your requested OPT authorization dates. Once you have applied for OPT, it is not possible to change or cancel the requested employment dates. If you are considering a transition to a work-based immigration status, such as H-1B, the dates you select may also impact your ability to maintain work permission during that change. For additional information, review common OPT decision factors below.

PhD students: PhD students are in a unique situation, in that, OPT regulations allow them to apply for post completion OPT with completed required coursework, without defending their thesis, if necessary. Due to the flexibility and variability, PhD students must submit the verification of program completion form .  PhD students should be sending this request only to their department/program coordinators. This form should not be signed by faculty.

You must be physically present in the U.S. at the time of your USCIS filing and be maintaining F-1 status. Your application materials must be received by USCIS:

• No earlier than 90 days before your I-20 Program End Date
• No later than 60 days after your I-20 Program End Date
• Within 30 days of receiving your OPT recommendation from ISO

Applications received outside of these required timelines will likely be denied by USCIS. As a reminder, you must include a copy of your OPT recommendation I-20 with your application. Review I-765 completion instructions.

Be patient and wait for your application to be processed. USCIS will send you a text/email confirmation of application receipt, as well as an I-797 Receipt Notice in the mail. Once you have your USCIS Receipt Number, you can use it to check your case status online. USCIS processing times vary, but they often range from 3 to 6 months.

You may receive a Request for Evidence (RFE)  from USCIS if they need more information from you. It is recommended that you inform ISO if you receive an RFE from USCIS so that we can advise and assist you with a quick response. When your application is approved, you will receive an I-797 Approval Notice and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in the mail. You may also receive a Social Security Card in the mail, if applicable. If you used a personal mailing address, be sure to check your mail regularly

Only the EAD you receive by mail can serve as official proof of work authorization (not the approval notice). Your EAD will list your authorized OPT employment dates. Employment is authorized ONLY for the dates listed and ONLY in your field of study, as indicated by the major(s) on your I-20.

Do NOT begin working until you have your EAD in hand and your authorized OPT period has started!

Carefully review your EAD card when you receive it to ensure your name, country of birth, date of birth, and employment authorization dates are accurate. For F-1 Post-Completion OPT, you should see C03B listed as the Category and Stu: Post-Completion OPT under the Terms and Conditions. If you identify any errors on your card, please email opt@rochester.edu.

During your OPT period, you have an aggregate 90-day unemployment limit. During your OPT period, you must report all employment activities and address details to ISO within 10 days of any changes. OPT work permission is not employer-specific and you may change employers at any time during the authorization period, you report these changes accordingly.

If you completed a STEM-eligible degree program and may apply for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension toward the end of your OPT period, please review ISO’s website for timing and employment eligibility criteria to assist you with planning during your OPT period.

Most F-1 students choose to save their available OPT permission until they are finishing their degree and will apply for post-completion work authorization. Since ISO is often able to authorize similar employment during a student’s academic program through F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT), pre-completion OPT is very rare.

Both CPT and OPT have similar minimum eligibility requirements. A major advantage of CPT is that the authorization comes from the specific school within the University instead of USCIS, meaning the processing time is usually much faster and does not involve a fee.

If you are planning to use your OPT employment as both pre- and post-completion, these will be treated as separate applications, requiring the same process and fees for each one. Instead, you may want to consider an adjustment to your completion date and/or requested employment dates to allow for a single period of post-completion OPT.

Pre-completion OPT has the added challenge that you must maintain full-time enrollment during academic terms and would not be eligible for the Cap Gap Extension or STEM Extension, that might otherwise be available to you.

Applications for post-completion OPT may be filed as early as 90 days before the completion date listed on the I-20 and up to 60 days after completion. For students requesting pre-completion OPT, you may apply 90 days before your intended start date. ISO is usually able to process the OPT recommendation and issue your new I-20 within one week.

Your application must be received by USCIS within 30 days of the OPT recommendation date in SEVIS. Once the required materials are successfully filed, USCIS may take 2-5 months to process the OPT application (sometimes longer in rare cases). The average processing time changes throughout the year due to volume.

If USCIS is not able to approve your OPT application by your requested start date, they will adjust your employment dates based on when it can be approved (within a limit of 14 months after your completion date). For this reason, you must wait to begin work until after you have received the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card authorizing your employment.

As you consider your OPT start date, we encourage you to use the OPT calculator below.
This resource can help you calculate your OPT timeline and better understand your options.

In addition, please keep the following factors in mind:

• • You may choose to begin your OPT work authorization immediately after your program ends or delay the start by up to 60 days. Any time within this 60-day window is part of your F-1 status, and you remain in F-1 status throughout this time. Many students use this period to job search, relocate, or take a short break before starting work.
  • When selecting your OPT start date, keep in mind the trade-off between flexibility and readiness to work. If you choose a later start date, you cannot begin working until that date—even if your OPT has already been approved. This may pose a challenge if you receive a job offer to start before your authorized employment date.
  • Choosing an earlier OPT start date gives you more flexibility to accept job offers sooner, but it also means your unemployment days will begin counting from that start date, even if you’re not yet working.

When requesting a post-completion OPT recommendation, students should determine their expected completion date with their academic advisor carefully. This date will be printed on the new I-20 and reflects the expected completion of all degree requirements for the individual student, including classes, exams, final thesis, etc. Students must maintain full-time enrollment through the completion date, or obtain permission for a reduced course load. This date also triggers the end of F-1 On-Campus work permission, which includes all service-based Graduate Awards and assistantships, positions hired through Student Employment, and any other paid work at the University. Many graduate students have some flexibility in determining this date, based on their academic and employment plans. Academic programs that are based on course requirements alone, however, will be more strictly tied to the student’s last academic term.

Once your OPT application is submitted, it is very complicated, and often impossible, to make changes to your requested employment dates. You must choose these dates carefully! If you do not have a job when you apply for OPT, you can maximize your job search after graduation by using the full 60-day allowance to delay OPT.